Bike case garda awaits fate as commissioner Drew Harris views inquiry findings

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris must decide if a garda suspended for three years after providing an elderly and isolated man with an unclaimed bicycle for transport during the pandemic will be sanctioned.

The officer, who was only reinstated in recent months, has been on restricted duties at a midlands station since his return to work.

A sworn disciplinary inquiry is now completed and recommendations have been sent to Mr Harris on whether he should face sanctions. The commissioner will evaluate the recommendations and evidence given at the hearings.

The proceedings were adjudicated by a legal professional, a superintendent and a chief superintendent who are unconnected to the case.

Mr Harris will return to the three adjudicators with his decision within five weeks.

It is understood the garda is accused of five alleged disciplinary offences, including discreditable conduct, neglect of duty, misuse of property and disobedience of orders.

​In June 2020, gardaí from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) raided his home. The elderly man’s home was also visited by the NBCI and the bicycle was retrieved.

The officer had given the bike to the man a few weeks earlier, but had failed to fill out the necessary paperwork, it is understood.

Sources said the elderly man lived in a rural area and his own bicycle had become unusable. He needed a way to get around during the worst of the Covid pandemic. The officer decided to give him an unclaimed bike recovered by gardaí “some time previously” as no one had claimed it.

The garda was suspended immediately after his home was raided by the NBCI. He remained suspended for three years and was only reinstated late last year following the completion of an NBCI investigation, which found he had “no criminal case” to answer.

Sources said there were “several discrepancies about what actually happened” in the evidence given to the sworn inquiry by the local garda managers who reported the officer to the NBCI.

Several witnesses gave evidence over the two days of hearings, when all of the facts were outlined.

The garda faces potential sanctions including a reprimand, fine, caution and even dismissal. He could also be cleared of all wrongdoing by the disciplinary inquiry.

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